Behind the Headlines

Before his indiscretion in Mexico where he when inebriated urinated from above on a passing military procession which gave a whole new meaning to the term raining on your parade, Tracy was one of the top actors in Hollywood. When trying to find an image of Tracy on the net recently, I could barely find reference to his name much less a picture. This almost forgotten screen star was a versatile player who was eventually nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "The Best Man." He was also for me the definitive "Martin Kane" in the early TV series "Martin Kane, Private Eye." "Behind the Headlines" was made after his fall from grace when he was trying to jump start his fading Hollywood career.

There is much chemistry between Tracy and his leading lady Diana Gibson, who unfortunately had a fairly brief movie career. They play two rival reporters, Eddie Haines and Mary Bradley respectively, who were once apparently an item. Mary works for a New York newspaper, Eddie for a radio station where he tries to get the latest scoop before she can get it printed for the morning edition. She and her henchmen attempt time after time to sabotage his on-the-spot broadcasts by either stealing or scrambling the portable box with microphone that he carries with him or hides.

A novel aspect of "Behind the Headlines," many a year before James Bond's "Goldfinger," has the bad guys planning a heist of gold bars in transit from Washington, D.C., to a new depository in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Mary, up to her old tricks to outmaneuver Eddie, finds herself kidnapped by the gold thieves headed by Potter played by character actor Donald Meek who surprisingly makes an effective heavy. She is held hostage in a cave hideout. It's up to Eddie to rescue her. In the end it's still Mary who has the last word.

This programmer stays lighthearted and carefree to be a winner all the way. The inspired teaming of Lee Tracy and Diana Gibson somewhat foreshadows the later teaming of Spencer Tracy (no relation) and Katharine Hepburn.